the desire of ages-第78部分

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other；　〃This　is　of　a　truth　that　Prophet　that　should　come　into　the　world。〃

All　day　the　conviction　has　strengthened。　That　crowning　act　is　assurance　that　the　long…looked…for　Deliverer　is　among　them。　The　hopes　of　the　people　rise　higher　and　higher。　This　is　He　who　will　make　Judea　an　earthly　paradise；　a　land　flowing　with　milk　and　honey。　He　can　satisfy　every　desire。　He　can　break　the　power　of　the　hated　Romans。　He　can　deliver　Judah　and　Jerusalem。　He　can　heal　the　soldiers　who　are　wounded　in　battle。　He　can　supply　whole　armies　with　food。　He　can　conquer　the　nations；　and　give　to　Israel　the　long…sought　dominion。

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In　their　enthusiasm　the　people　are　ready　at　once　to　crown　Him　king。　They　see　that　He　makes　no　effort　to　attract　attention　or　secure　honor　to　Himself。　In　this　He　is　essentially　different　from　the　priests　and　rulers；　and　they　fear　that　He　will　never　urge　His　claim　to　David's　throne。　Consulting　together；　they　agree　to　take　Him　by　force；　and　proclaim　Him　the　king　of　Israel。　The　disciples　unite　with　the　multitude　in　declaring　the　throne　of　David　the　rightful　inheritance　of　their　Master。　It　is　the　modesty　of　Christ；　they　say；　that　causes　Him　to　refuse　such　honor。　Let　the　people　exalt　their　Deliverer。　Let　the　arrogant　priests　and　rulers　be　forced　to　honor　Him　who　comes　clothed　with　the　authority　of　God。

They　eagerly　arrange　to　carry　out　their　purpose；　but　Jesus　sees　what　is　on　foot；　and　understands；　as　they　cannot；　what　would　be　the　result　of　such　a　movement。　Even　now　the　priests　and　rulers　are　hunting　His　life。　They　accuse　Him　of　drawing　the　people　away　from　them。　Violence　and　insurrection　would　follow　an　effort　to　place　Him　on　the　throne；　and　the　work　of　the　spiritual　kingdom　would　be　hindered。　Without　delay　the　movement　must　be　checked。　Calling　His　disciples；　Jesus　bids　them　take　the　boat　and　return　at　once　to　Capernaum；　leaving　Him　to　dismiss　the　people。

Never　before　had　a　command　from　Christ　seemed　so　impossible　of　fulfillment。　The　disciples　had　long　hoped　for　a　popular　movement　to　place　Jesus　on　the　throne；　they　could　not　endure　the　thought　that　all　this　enthusiasm　should　come　to　nothing。　The　multitudes　that　were　assembling　to　keep　the　Passover　were　anxious　to　see　the　new　prophet。　To　His　followers　this　seemed　the　golden　opportunity　to　establish　their　beloved　Master　on　the　throne　of　Israel。　In　the　glow　of　this　new　ambition　it　was　hard　for　them　to　go　away　by　themselves；　and　leave　Jesus　alone　upon　that　desolate　shore。　They　protested　against　the　arrangement；　but　Jesus　now　spoke　with　an　authority　He　had　never　before　assumed　toward　them。　They　knew　that　further　opposition　on　their　part　would　be　useless；　and　in　silence　they　turned　toward　the　sea。

Jesus　now　commands　the　multitude　to　disperse；　and　His　manner　is　so　decisive　that　they　dare　not　disobey。　The　words　of　praise　and　exaltation　die　on　their　lips。　In　the　very　act　of　advancing　to　seize　Him　their　steps　are　stayed；　and　the　glad；　eager　look　fades　from　their　countenances。　In　that　throng　are　men　of　strong　mind　and　firm　determination；　but　the　kingly　bearing　of　Jesus；　and　His　few　quiet　words　of　command；　quell　the　tumult；　and　frustrate　their　designs。　They　recognize

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in　Him　a　power　above　all　earthly　authority；　and　without　a　question　they　submit。

When　left　alone；　Jesus　〃went　up　into　a　mountain　apart　to　pray。〃　For　hours　He　continued　pleading　with　God。　Not　for　Himself　but　for　men　were　those　prayers。　He　prayed　for　power　to　reveal　to　men　the　divine　character　of　His　mission；　that　Satan　might　not　blind　their　understanding　and　pervert　their　judgment。　The　Saviour　knew　that　His　days　of　personal　ministry　on　earth　were　nearly　ended；　and　that　few　would　receive　Him　as　their　Redeemer。　In　travail　and　conflict　of　soul　He　prayed　for　His　disciples。　They　were　to　be　grievously　tried。　Their　long…cherished　hopes；　based　on　a　popular　delusion；　were　to　be　disappointed　in　a　most　painful　and　humiliating　manner。　In　the　place　of　His　exaltation　to　the　throne　of　David　they　were　to　witness　His　crucifixion。　This　was　to　be　indeed　His　true　coronation。　But　they　did　not　discern　this；　and　in　consequence　strong　temptations　would　come　to　them；　which　it　would　be　difficult　for　them　to　recognize　as　temptations。　Without　the　Holy　Spirit　to　enlighten　the　mind　and　enlarge　the　comprehension　the　faith　of　the　disciples　would　fail。　It　was　painful　to　Jesus　that　their　conceptions　of　His　kingdom　were；　to　so　great　a　degree；　limited　to　worldly　aggrandizement　and　honor。　For　them　the　burden　was　heavy　upon　His　heart；　and　He　poured　out　His　supplications　with　bitter　agony　and　tears。

The　disciples　had　not　put　off　immediately　from　the　land；　as　Jesus　directed　them。　They　waited　for　a　time；　hoping　that　He　would　come　to

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them。　But　as　they　saw　that　darkness　was　fast　gathering；　they　〃entered　into　a　ship；　and　went　over　the　sea　toward　Capernaum。〃　They　had　left　Jesus　with　dissatisfied　hearts；　more　impatient　with　Him　than　ever　before　since　acknowledging　Him　as　their　Lord。　They　murmured　because　they　had　not　been　permitted　to　proclaim　Him　king。　They　blamed　themselves　for　yielding　so　readily　to　His　command。　They　reasoned　that　if　they　had　been　more　persistent　they　might　have　accomplished　their　purpose。

Unbelief　was　taking　possession　of　their　minds　and　hearts。　Love　of　honor　had　blinded　them。　They　knew　that　Jesus　was　hated　by　the　Pharisees；　and　they　were　eager　to　see　Him　exalted　as　they　thought　He　should　be。　To　be　united　with　a　teacher　who　could　work　mighty　miracles；　and　yet　to　be　reviled　as　deceivers；　was　a　trial　they　could　ill　endure。　Were　they　always　to　be　accounted　followers　of　a　false　prophet？　Would　Christ　never　assert　His　authority　as　king？　Why　did　not　He　who　possessed　such　power　reveal　Himself　in　His　true　character；　and　make　their　way　less　painful？　Why　had　He　not　saved　John　the　Baptist　from　a　violent　death？　Thus　the　disciples　reasoned　until　they　brought　upon　themselves　great　spiritual　darkness。　They　questioned；　Could　Jesus　be　an　impostor；　as　the　Pharisees　asserted？

The　disciples　had　that　day　witnessed　the　wonderful　works　of　Christ。　It　had　seemed　that　heaven　had　come　down　to　the　earth。　The　memory　of　that　precious；　glorious　day　should　have　filled　them　with　faith　and　hope。　Had　they；　out　of　the　abundance　of　their　hearts；　been　conversing　together　in　regard　to　these　things；　they　would　not　have　entered　into　temptation。　But　their　disappointment　had　absorbed　their　thoughts。　The　words　of　Christ；　〃Gather　up　the　fragments；　。　。　。　that　nothing　be　lost；〃　were　unheeded。　Those　were　hours　of　large　blessing　to　the　disciples；　but　they　had　forgotten　it　all。　They　were　in　the　midst　of　troubled　waters。　Their　thoughts　were　stormy　and　unreasonable；　and　the　Lord　gave　them　something　else　to　afflict　their　souls　and　occupy　their　minds。　God　often　does　this　when　men　create　burdens　and　troubles　for　themselves。　The　disciples　had　no　need　to　make　trouble。　Already　danger　was　fast　approaching。

A　violent　tempest　had　been　stealing　upon　them；　and　they　were　unprepared　for　it。　It　was　a　sudden　contrast；　for　the　day　had　been　perfect；　and　when　the　gale　struck　them；　they　were　afraid。　They　forgot　their　disaffection；　their　unbelief；　their　impatience。　Everyone　worked　to　keep　the　boat　from　sinking。　It　was　but　a　short　distance　by　sea　from　Bethsaida　to　the　point　where　they　expected　to　meet　Jesus；　and　in　ordinary　weather　the　journey　required　but　a　few　hours；　but　now　they　were　driven　farther

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and　farther　from　the　point　they　sought。　Until　the　fourth　watch　of　the　night　they　toiled　at　the　oars。　Then　the　weary　men　gave　themselves　up　for　lost。　In　storm　and　darkness　the　sea　had　taught　them　their　own　helplessness；　and　they　longed　for　the　presence　of　their　Master。

Jesus　had　not　forgotten　them。　The　Watcher　on　the　shore　saw　those　fear…stricken　men　battling　with　the　tempest。　Not　for　a　moment　did　He　lose　sight　of　His　disciples。　With　deepest　solicitude　His　eyes　followed　the　storm…tossed　boat　with　its　precious　burden；　for　these　men　were　to　be　the　light　of　the　world。　As　a　mother　in　tender　love　watches　her　child；　so　the　compassionate　Master　watched　His　disciples。　When　their　hearts　were　subdued；　their　unholy　ambition　quelled；　and　in　humility　they　prayed　for　help；　it　was　given　them。

At　the　moment　when　they　believe　themselves　lost；　a　gleam　of　light　reveals　a　mysterious　figure　approaching　them　upon　the　water。　But　they　know　not　that　it　is　Jesus。　The　One　who　has　come　for　their　help　they　count　as　an　enemy。　Terror　overpowers　them。　The　hands　that　have　grasped　the　oars　with　muscles　like　iron　let　go　their　hold。　The　boat　rocks　at　the　will　of　the　waves；　all　eyes　are　riveted　on　this　vision　of　a　man　walking　upon　the　white…capped　billows　of　the　foaming　sea。

They　think　it　a　phantom　that　omens　their　destruction；　and　they　cry　out　for　fear。　Jesus　advances　as　if　He　would　pass　them；　but　they　recognize　Him；　and　cry　out；　entreating　His　help。　Their　beloved　Master　turns；　His　voice　silences　their　fear；　〃Be　of　good　cheer：　it　is　I；　be　not　afraid。〃

As　soon　as　they　could　credit　the　wondrous　fact；　Peter　was　almost　beside　himself　with　joy。　As　if　he　could　scarcely　yet　believe；　he　cried　out；　〃Lord；　if　it　be　Thou；　bid　me　come　unto　Thee　on　the　water。　And　He　said；　Come。〃

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